‘CM being treated for infection’

Meanwhile, a press communique from the Apollo Hospital said, Jayalalithaa’s health continues to improve and is responding well to the treatment given to her. After obtaining expert opinion from Dr. Richard Beale, an international specialist and consultant from the Guys’ and St. Thomas hospital in London, doctors at the Apollo Hospitals are administering appropriate antibiotics and other allied clinical measures to treat infection, the release stated.“The Chief Minister has been advised a few more days of stay at the hospital,” Chief Operating Officer Subbaiah Viswanathan said in the release. 

Police sources said that around 700 personnel were posted in and around the hospital on Sunday as they expected more crowds in the coming days.

Ministers and party leaders continued to come in from the morning and performed poojas for the Chief Minister’s speedy recovery.

Speaking to reporters, AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswathi said, “The hospital has been sharing bulletins about her health regularly. Even after sharing the bulletins, what do they expect? Every day Ministers are coming and meeting her(Jayalalithaa) since local body elections are around the corner.” 

She also said the Chief Minister was “meeting ministers and officials every day” and that “the government was functioning like always.” “Amma works 22 out of 24 hours for the party. We want her to get some rest. That is why she was staying on in hospital,” she said.

She rejected calls by DMK chief M Karunanidhi for a photograph to be released of the 68-year-old leader to rein in speculation about her health condition. “Amma is a woman and in hospital; it is not right to ask for her photo. Even if we do so, he will say it has been photo-shopped. He is making such comments just to criticise us,” she said. 

Karunanidhi had recently said that though Apollo Hospitals was issuing bulletins on her health, “some unwanted rumours” were deliberately being floated by “some persons”. 

Several ministers including O Panneerselvam, SP Velumani, D. Jayakumar and Valarmathi visited the hospital on Sunday.